CLINTON, S.C. – A nine-run ninth inning propelled La Salle past the Presbyterian College baseball team on Sunday afternoon en route to a 16-7 victory in the series finale at the PC Baseball Complex. PC falls to 2-2, as the Explorers even their record at 2-2.

How It Happened

Both teams had the bats going early with both scratching across a run in the first. A one-out walk to Peyton Sorrels, a wild pitch and an RBI single by Ben Faso made it 1-0 La Salle in the top half. PC tied in the bottom half after a walk to Jonathan White and an RBI double by Nick Wise.

La Salle pulled in front with a three-run second. A single to center by Connor Hinchliffe and a hit-by-pitch put two aboard with one out. Brett Simon scored the first with an RBI single and two batters later Sorrels drove in two more with an RBI single to right to make it a 4-1 ballgame.

PC rallied back with two runs in the third and three more in the fourth. Andrew Bladt led off the third with a double and scored two batters later on a sac fly by Jonathan White. Guy Casaceli, who singled and went to third on a double by Wise, then scored on a throwing error by the catcher to pull PC within one. PC opened the fourth with four straight hits, as Michael Varga doubled, Bladt singled on a bunt, Casaceli singled to left to score Varga and White singled up the middle to bring home Bladt. An RBI fielder’s choice by Jack McLaughlin later in the inning brought in White to put the Blue Hose in front 6-4.

La Salle tied the game with two runs in the sixth. Brian Dudeck was hit by a pitch to start the sixth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Austin Constantini then singled to right, moving Dudeck to third, but a misplayed by the right fielder allowed Dudeck to score and Constantini to go to third. Later in the inning, Kevin McGowan singled through the right side to score Constantini and tied the game at 6-6.

Tannor Byrd broke the tie with a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning but La Salle answered in the eighth. Constantini was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a groundout, moved to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a passed ball to make it a 7-7 game.

In the ninth, La Salle sent 13 batters to the plate in its final at-bat to total nine runs on six hits, two walks and a PC error in the frame. Four two-RBI singles by Simon, Faso, Brian Tagoe and Hinchliffe accounted for eight of the nine runs, as the Explorers pulled away for the win.

Pitchers of Record

CJ Pruitt (1-0) earned the win with 2.0 scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits and a walk against two strikeouts.

Will Smith (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing six runs (two earned) on four hits in 0.2 inning out of the bullpen.

Notables

- Reagan Fowler made his PC debut with the start on the mound. The freshman allowed four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts against two walks in 5.0 innings of work, as he got a no decision.

- Nick Wise continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-3 day at the plate with two doubles, two walks and an RBI. AJ Priaulx also went 2-for-4 out of the middle of the lineup with a walk.

- Andrew Bladt went 3-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs on the afternoon. Guy Casaceli, making his first start of the season, went 2-for-6 with a run and an RBI out of the leadoff spot.

- Carter Williams made his collegiate debut and collected his first collegiate hit with a pinch-hit at-bat in the ninth inning. He singled to right on the second pitch he saw to go 1-for-1 in the contest.

Up Next

PC makes a midweek trip to Vanderbilt for a pair of road contests on Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT (5 p.m. ET) for both games and can be seen on the SEC Network+.